My computer is starting up in "Safe Mode" and I cannot start

Everytime I start my computer is startup in safe mode. I have tried to run the help sets in Windows but I still cannot startup in normal mode. I need help!!!!!

I'm believing you're running Windows 2000, since that is what is indicated in your signature.
If you're running XP or some other operating system, the steps will be similar, but please post back to clarify what operating system you have on the machine that is causing you the problem.

When Windows 2000 persistently starts in SAFE Mode, it is most likely indicating a problem, such as:
Hard Drive file corruption
Operating System file corruption
Hardware Problem.

To Run Check Disk in Windows 2000:

Basic error checking…………… This disk checking is very comprehensive and may take several hours

Double left click on the My Computer icon
Right click on the “C:” drive
Left click on Properties
Left click on the Tools tab
Left click on Check Now … under Error-checking
Left click Start
If you want to do a more in-depth error checking there are 2 other options available:

First option is to Automatically fix file system errors (choosing this option will require a restart of the computer to run). When choosing this option you will see a box pop up that says, "The check disk could not be preformed because exclusive access to the drive could not be obtained. Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur next time you restart the computer?"

When prompted for this you would choose Yes if you want it to run on the next reboot of the system.

The second option for error checking is Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors (this will not require a restart of the system)

To Run System File Checker:

Start - Run - (type) sfc /scannow

……..System File Checker may take 10 - 20 minutes

Have your Windows 2000 installation CD handy in case SFC needs to copy and replace a corrupt or missing system file.

—————————-
It will help us to know what you have done with your machine just prior to the appearance of this problem.
For instance:
Did you install any new hardware?
Did you install any new programs or update any application programs or the operating system?

============

While it is unlikely that your machine is starting in SAFE Mode "for no reason at all", you certainly can try to reboot into Normal Mode:

If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power
Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on.
When you see the black-and-white Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen, start tapping the F8 key. The Windows 2000 Advanced Options Menu appears.
Ensure that the Normal Mode option is selected. In most cases, Normal Mode is about 3/4 of the way down the list. Select Normal Mode (use your arrow-keys to select Normal Mode)
Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Normal mode
If this procedure doesn't work, then the "Starts in SAFE Mode" problem is most likely indicating a problem with your machine, your hard drive, your operating system, or some other hardware.
Please complete the first two suggestions before posting back, as either one of those two will likely identify the problem.

Is there an "Error Code" reported when your computer boots into SAFE Mode?

Best Regards

DOUGH, I am running Windows ME on this system, will the recovery procedure work with ME as it will with 2000? Thanks, oxycmp

No.

In Windows ME, you have the original Scan Disk utility that performs basic hard disk integrity scanning.
Go ahead and run it, allowing it to automatically fix and recover lost fragments. But don't spend much time wondering what to do with the fragments. I've never found any instance ever, where recovered and saved fragments were of any use to the owner/user. Just let ScanDisk do its thing.
You can find ScanDisk in Programs - Accessories - System Tools

Here's how to run ScanDisk:

Click the Start button.
Point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click ScanDisk.
Click the drive you want to scan, and then choose either the Standard or the Thorough test.
Click Start.

The Standard test checks the files and folders on the selected drive for errors.
The Thorough test will give you further options. It performs the Standard test plus checks your hard disk for physical damage. You can even specify to scan areas of your disk containing only data files, or just the areas with system files, or both.
Both Standard and Thorough have a set of Advanced options that help you to deal with lost file fragments, invalid files, and cross-linked files. You can also choose to display a summary and to keep a log file of what ScanDisk finds.

The System File Checker (sfc /scannow) should run just fine in Windows ME to detect and repair any missing or corrupt Operating System Files.

Please keep in mind that Windows ME Operating System will no longer be supported by Microsoft as of next Tuesday July 11th. That means that new threats to the operating system's security online will not be fixed or protected against by Microsoft…….Time to be thinking about a new Operating System.

Best Regards

Dough, When I try to run "sfc /scannow" it's giving me an error stating that the file cannot be found. I performed a search on the file and found" SFC.DLL. Is this the file name for ME? Thanks, oxycmp

Sorry Oxycmp,

I guess I'm just too optimistic when it comes to Microsoft.
Never having used ME, I did not know (until reading up on it just now) that they removed SFC in the ME version release and then replaced it again in Win 2000.
Windows ME kinda-sorta has a System File Checker, but it is not available for user interface… meaning that you can't access and run it they way I previously described. Major bummer!
They integrated their file protection into System Restore in ME.
I suppose that it would be possible to select a Restore Point from before when you started having problems with the machine. If you do decide to "go back" to a "clean Restore Point", you will loose all of your Microsoft updates that are more recent than that point.

That's a problem, since Microsoft is discontinuing ME updates as of next Tuesday.
However, you can get some useful utilities that "may" help, here:
http://www.computerhope.com/download/winme.htm

Unfortunately, even Microsoft recommends that the only alternative for restoring corrupted or missing system files in Windows ME is to do a re-installation over the top of your current operating system. Theoretically, that would give you all the correct Microsoft operating system files
But…. Any negative compromising events caused by other software or malware "will" remain in place and continue to give you problems.
And… you would then have lost "all" of the important ME updates from Microsoft.

If you have any important documents on this machine, I'd suggest you attempt to save/back-them-up to CD and then format and re-install an operating system onto this machine.

I know. Not very happy news. I'm sorry, you just don't have much to work with here.

(if the present machine is not set up, or does not allow you to retrieve files you wish to save, then consider removing the Hard Drive and installing it as "slave" in a well functioning machine for the purpose of copying any important files.)

Best Regards

Dough, Thank you for all of your help. I decided to re-install Win 2000. If I install the OS, do I have to do anything with ME, i.e do I need to reformat the hard drive or just let the OS write over ME. Thanks, oxycmp

If you have the full retail or oem version of Windows 2000, then you will "always" be better off with a complete Format of the Hard Drive prior to making a clean installation. If your installation CD is an "upgrade" version, then you'll have to leave the ME version on the machine in order for the Upgrade CD to "find an eligible product" for upgrade. There are some ways to minimize the amount of old ME stuff remaining in an upgraded operating system if you want to study up on it at various Windows help sites on the internet. Hopefully you have the full version of Win 2000 and can reformat prior to installation. Best Regards

Dough, I believe that I can get a full version of Win 2000. How do I reformat my hard drive? Thanks, oxycmp

I use a Win 98 boot disk.
You can download boot disks from:
http://www.bootdisk.com/

Read up on Formatting here:
This link assumes you have the Windows 2000 installation CD, which you can use to do the whole Reformat and Reinstallation procedure:
http://www.cyberwalker.net/faqs/reinstall-…at-NTFS-NT.html

Best Regards